The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-24
Moral and Legal Marriage.

The elopcment of q young girl and hel
marriage Mt midnight to the boy or lad
Of ner choice, moved not little the
Utmost soul Of Il fow hundred thou.
sand persons who reside in Cook Coun.
ty; but this commotion was a calm in
compar son with the tumult caused by
the illusion which came suddenly over
the mind of a rather noble girl an
illusion which assumed the form of a
desire to we'd one of the leading an
archists now in the County Jail under
u death-sentencc.
The latter case has aroused an indig-
nation rs broad as tho normal condition
of the local mind. the reverend gentle
man continues. in the Chicago journal.
and has awakened an approval as
large rs the admiring circle around
Captain Black and his incarcerated
clients. With that small number Of
persons to whom the murder of eight
policemen and the wounding OF
twenty more was n venial matter, this
wedding between young girl and the
leading agent in the bloody riot is also
rather n nice thing. The women and
men who had sympathy and flowers
for the May rioters ought to bring plen-
ty of blossoms for the January we'd
ding. There was no great wrong in
the death of the policemen, and much
less wrong would there be in the Jail
wedding So argues the Captain
Black coterie of mortals-a coterie
whose code of ethics is perhaps the
most original ever fabricated outside
of an insane asylum, which, beginning
in the espousal of anarchy as vir-
tue. eliminates in asking beautiful
girl to marry it being n pity for such
social flower to waste its sweetness ON
the desert air.
IL was wonderful kindness of heav-
en- TO grant to the same city which per-
mitted Captain Black TO live and in
cucate etithics. Sheriff Matson also to
live TO prevent the Black idea from be-
coming epidemic. What would become
of us if to his tasks like lawyer Cap
tain Black were given liberty to weave
marriages between the anarchists in
Jail and the foolish girls out of itP The
sheriff has come in as a most timely re-
buke to one of the greatest absurdities
of the age. A man of good sense has
risen up to quite bedlam.
1t did seem for time as though the
marriage being conceded as coming,
some Clergyman would be found to-
take his sacred robes in carpet-sack.
and, looming them in the jail, make
two loving hearts TO beat rs one. In,
the recent runaway match clergyman
was found who would rise at midnight,
and for a consideration. rattle over,
some holy words, and thus place his Of
flee on level with a village squire.
That this same Clergyman could have
been secured for our Jail wedding there
is no reasonable doubt for, with him,
as with many other preachers, marri-
age has lost its religious element, and,
like business partnership, is a mere
matter of law. This is strange phe-
nomenon in the Episcopal Church, be-
cause church which is so careful
about how marriage bond shall be
dissolved should reveal some preference
as to how it should be created. If mid
night and sol tude and girlsh green
ness make good beginning, the man
ner of ending should be of little impor-
lance.
But the Spies nuptials. now only
prospective, reveal the ridiculous pass
to which marriage has come by help of
both law and the gospel. The clergy
have helped to degrade the altar
Some of our singers and actresses have |
been married three or four or five times |
tho words It'll death us do part"
having nothing TO do with the parting
A silly man and woman can get mar. I
ried in shop window, or up in q
balloon. and at any time OF night or
day. Three or four dollars. or a dollar |
and half even. will sufficiently be-
cloud the moral sense OF parson or I
squire, and on goes the wedding with
neatness and dispatch, Our age now
completes its hideous work by asking |
us to admire the orange blossoms which
good girl proposes to wear in the
County Jail for a few moments. The
daily papers have done noble duty by ]
expressing, instead of admiration. their +
indignation at all concerned in the
affair, and especially toward those who
are old enough to possess some of thu
admonitions of common sense.
This little paper was begun with the
design Of suggesting that the clergy
should never take part in any clandes-
tine or eccentric marriage. The cler-
gyman's rite is not the legal rite. His
wedding possesses a religious element,
and IL silly people run to him to be
married, they should be sent onward
toward some magistrate. Some of the
Chicago pastors have done this again